Question on how to network 2 computers

hi i was wondering how to network 2 computers but no router, i was thinking using the desktop as a server and the laptop connecting to it if possible wirelessly, the laptop has a wifi card installed already do i just need one for the desktop? how would i set it up? thanks

You can hook up 2 computers wirelessly using what is called an ad-hoc system. This way you would be able to connect between the 2 as long as you are in the same workgroup. You'll just need to get a wireless card for your desktop. Then go to network connections and choose the wireless card. Once in there, setup your network.

okay i got the wirless NIC for my desktop, they see eachother and it says the laptop and desktop are connected (both running xp sp2) i can see the shared folder on the laptop but i can't access it and i was wondering how to share internet connections, i tried enabling share internet connection but is there anything else i could do? thanks

On the second machine
Log on as Administrator
Start | connect to | Show all connections
right click Local Area Connection and select Properties
select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
General Tab click Advanced
on IP Settings tab add new gateway
tick automatic metric
OK out

If you have a wireless network you'll right clickNetwork Bridge Connected instead of Local Area Connection.

Well it depends on how your setup is.
your using a crossover cable right...
So the default gateway is 192.168.0.1 Your main computer should have this IP as well. this is the setup i have and it works alright i guess but im buying myself a router in 12days.

thanks everyone for the help but i got a router instead everything works great, the shared files show up on both computers too guess peer-to-peer was just too complicated for me...i was wondering though how do you get to the setup wizard? i got the dlink wireless router, it's the DI-524 it says enter 192.168.0.1 in internet explorer but i keep getting a gateway timeout...any ideas? thanks